Heat from Deep Underground

Open to everyone until Tuesday, September 29

To keep it, print it while it is open.

Deep below the surface, rocks stay hot all year round. Water sent down through pipes picks up that heat and comes back up to warm buildings and spin turbines that make electricity.

In the picture

Deep hot rock: rock far below the surface that stays hot the whole year
Pipe loop: water travels down, heats up, and returns to the surface
Turbine and generator: rising steam spins the turbine, which drives the generator
Radiator: hot water from underground warms a room

Examples

A hot spring or geyser, where underground heat warms water that reaches the surface
A town that heats its swimming pool with warm water pumped from deep wells

Key takeaways

Earth is hot deep inside, so that heat can be captured almost anywhere
The hotter the underground water, the more useful it is: warm water heats buildings, very hot steam makes electricity